1941-2007

Last December 23, my uncle finally went to rest. After struggling with liver cancer for almost a year and a half, he finally had his last breath.
Last year, I remember my cousin bringing him to China for some herbal medicine to prolong his life since according to the doctor, no matter how much chemo my uncle takes, his life will not extend anymore. The herbal medicine let him live for another 6 months since the doctors only gave him 3 months to live but then he was still able to extend his life to almost a year after taking the herbal medicine...

I wonder how it feels to die. That uncle of mine was a big man, stands more than 6feet and weighs more than 200pounds... The last time I saw him was 3 months ago more or less, he was still very alive, not thin and still talks happily, though he gets tired easily.

I haven't visited him yet in the wake, maybe I will, but mostly I won't.

I pity him because he didn't know he had cancer. We hide it from him so that he would be able to enjoy his life to the fullest. We thought that if he knew he had cancer and was dying, he would be spending the rest of the time left mourning and depressed, so we didn't tell him anymore...

He was 66, too young to die. My dad's almost the same age as him, but my dad's still alive and kicking, not to mention that he can still drive and go to work, plus have a little fun with his friends at night before going home.

My uncle was not a heavy drinker to suffer from liver cancer. But instead, he got liver cancer from the medicines he takes after having a bypass surgery in the heart 20 years ago. He's taking almost 20 tablets daily to support his heart. Sad thing: the thing that's letting him live is also the thing that let him die...